Is "being so bold" an idiom? What does it mean?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
The phrase "be so bold" is an old-fashioned formal phrase used as a polite way of asking for or suggesting something when you do not want to offend someone. Here Howard is using it to say that he does not want Sheldon's mother to be offended by what he will say. It is not a commonly used phrase in modern speech. Ex: If I may be so bold, you look particularly beautiful tonight. Ex: If I may be so bold, you still haven't mentioned why you're here.